Novice NJ Cop Dies In Off-Duty Accident, Department Mourns

NORTHFIELD, NJ - A rookie South Jersey police officer died in an off-duty accident on Tuesday, cutting short a highly-highly anticipated career in the town he grew up in, authorities said.

Officer Johnathan Scull joined the Northfield Police Department in 2020, according to Chief Paul S. Newman, first serving as a special officer and code enforcement officer before he was recently moved to full-time officer duties.

“Officer Scull's career as a police officer was just beginning,” Northfield police wrote in a statement. “He was a proactive police officer and was excited to come to work every day. He was looking forward to a long career as a police officer in the town that he grew up in.”

Newman told NJ.com that Scull was fatally injured while working on a vehicle at a private residence in a nearby town in Atlantic County.

Scutt was a lifelong resident of Northfield and graduated from Mainland Regional High School in 2014.

“He was undoubtedly going to be a great asset to the Northfield Police Department and the City of Northfield as a whole,” the department added. “May you rest in peace Officer Scull #658. You will be greatly missed. We have the watch from here.”